GOP Volunteer Worries About Overconfidence

RUSH: We go to the phones to Hampton, Virginia. And Pamela, you’re up first. It’s great to have you here. Hi.

CALLER: Rush, this is such an honor to speak with you. I’ve been listening to you since the day they fired Tom Landry from the Dallas Cowboys. That’s the day I remember meeting you.

RUSH: That goes way back to the early nineties.

CALLER: It does. It does. Actually, the late eighties. I believe it was 1989.

RUSH: Yeah.

CALLER: Anyway, I love you, and this is an absolute honor to speak with you, and what I wanted to call you about is I am a bit concerned that you’re being too optimistic. I think you’re projecting an image that this may end up being a cakewalk. It’s not gonna be. I believe we’re ahead in the polls, I believe all those things, but we are up against the mainstream media. We all know they’re a hundred percent in the tank for Obama. They’re not projecting the good things about what’s happening within the grassroots efforts of —

RUSH: They never do.

CALLER: I know.

RUSH: How would you prefer that I act, Pamela?

CALLER: Well, actually, I think maybe just some healthy skepticism. And here’s my point. I want everybody to act as if we’re running behind and that their efforts depend on us actually winning this race. Now, what I’m saying is, I’m calling from Hampton, Virginia. I live in Texas. I am here because I’m working, knocking on doors, I’m being a volunteer in the state of Virginia. I’m going back home tonight. I’m leaving Monday and I’ll be in Ohio until the election’s over with. But my point is we’ve got to get out and do our part.

RUSH: Do you think we’re being out-hustled? Do you think we don’t have an ground game that can compete?

CALLER: We do have a ground game that can compete, but they’re busy, believe me, guys, they’re working. The other side does have a good ground game. I think that that’s the —

RUSH: I will gladly — if you want to hear more pessimism, I can do that.

CALLER: No, Rush, I’m not suggesting pessimism. My point in talking —

RUSH: Well, you don’t like optimism —

CALLER: Rush, I love optimism, I do, but here’s what I want everybody to do. Everybody get out and do something. Regardless of where you are. You can make phone calls from home.

RUSH: Why do you think people aren’t? And why do you think that’s not being said to people? Why do you think that you have to call any radio show to urge people to do that? Do you think most of the people on our side are not engaged that way? How did 2010 happen? How did it happen? How did that landslide happen? And what has changed to make people less energetic or enthusiastic since then?

CALLER: Probably nothing. My point, though, Rush, is just that I want to somehow project to people that we’ve got to work hard until the very end and do whatever we possibly can ’cause I sense that there’s so many people that are sitting back and they’re not sending in five dollars to different campaigns —

RUSH: Why do you think that? Have you seen Romney’s numbers?

CALLER: Oh, I absolutely did see his numbers.

RUSH: Did you see his money numbers?

CALLER: I did.

RUSH: This is very helpful. Am I creating the impression this election is over and nobody has to do anything, it’s just the media’s lying to everybody and this is in the tank and —

CALLER: No, no. I’m not saying that at all, Rush, and if I have, I apologize. I guess I’m just concerned. I want to make sure that we work as though we are a few points behind and that we do our part. You know, it’s difficult sometimes to get people to come to work. I know in Dallas we’ve had a few issues with campaigns — or people not coming in when we want them to, and probably because Texas is not, you know, a battleground state. And in Virginia, yes, it’s true, they could use some more help. All of these states can use some more help. If anybody is listening that has any inkling that they may be able to add to the campaign, you know, in the form of making phone calls or whatever, get out and do it. Gosh, I’m sorry, I’m so nervous, Rush.

RUSH: Well, I understand. I understand. I’m up against a time break here I can’t avoid; I’ve gotta take it. But I’d like to thank you for the call